Taper differences ensure that line weights cannot be standardized on a per foot basis. An agressive taper will vary more than a modest one. For instance, an agressively tapered 4 wt line at 10 ft might be equivalent to a flat 6 wt at 10 ft. At 50 ft, it may act more like a flat 2 wt line at 50 ft. While a more modest taper might will have a lesser differential, maybe a 5 wt in close and a 3 wt out far. A flat line should always act like what it says it is.

Ratings are merely "guidelines", not rules, and in the age of marketing are abused often. Not all rods nor lines are rated as they should be.

The rod itself can create the effect of a heavier line by being slower action, and vice versa.

The caster can create the effect of a heavier line by accelerating the casting stroke, and vice versa (I think we all instinctively know this one, even if we don't know we know it :)).

Any rod should be able to handle multiple line wts at multiple distances. i.e. a 5 wt will likely do just fine with anything from a 3 wt to a 7 wt line anywhere from 15-45 ft, any improvement at a specific distance is marginal.

Bottom line: Experiment with your equipment, at the distance and in the situations you expect to use it. Forget what's printed on the rod or line, go with what performs the best.

the short range at which you catch many trout on small streams can be surprising... I like these rio gold lines, they cast well and have a color change at 32 ft of fly line. allow for a leader, and the color change tells you your fly is about 40 ft away. on many small streams, you seldom make a long enough cast to see that color change.

Update. I had a Batson 6.6 2 wt (although I'm using a 3wt and may even try a 4wt) made for me. Guy did a great job but didn't charge me are agreed upon price because he said the color of the thread bled due to his color preserver or something. Sends me pictures and all. I can't see a damn thing wrong. We agreed upon $190 but he says he can't charge me more than $100. Sends me the rod and I still can't see what he is talking about. Took the rod out for a spin Monday. Casts streamers well, nymphs and dries great. Best part, I didn't get stuck in one tree like I did with my longer rods. Even got some fish too. I couldn't send the guy only $100 bucks because I would have had to go to confession for stealing. So I split the difference and sent him more. Guy sends me an email and is extremely greatful for me being so generous. I'm thinking, I'm not the generous one dude. Anyway, guy is my rod builder for life. I highly recommend this rod if you are looking for a small stream rod.

Foxgap239 wrote:Dano, the Batson blank was the eaxct one I was looking at. But I didn't know Sage had a 7' 4 wt. I may need to consider that one too.

The Sage TXL has been redesigned and discontinued. The new rod is called the TXL-F. The short 4 weight is now 6' 10" long. It is also 4 piece. My older model is 3 piece. IMHO I REALLY don't see how they could have made the TXL any better.

Posted on: 2012/1/4 14:30

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"Even the thousandth trip to the same familiar stream begins with renewed hope and unfailing faith." ZANE GREY

When I fish shorter fly rods, like under 8' I really like the feel and performance of fiberglass. There are lots of old glass rods around so if you can find one give it a try. Some of these are even in higher line weights like 5 or 6, something you don't find with graphite, but as mentioned you usually have to "line up" graphite for short casts. And in the glass realm I find the old shakespeare wonderrods to be pretty flexible (soft) and the Fenwick and Steffen to be a little quicker but still soft realative to g'phite.

Anyhow glass is just another way to skin the cat and it also makes a 6" fish feel bigger - try one they're a lot of fun

kbobb wrote:When I fish shorter fly rods, like under 8' I really like the feel and performance of fiberglass. There are lots of old glass rods around so if you can find one give it a try. Some of these are even in higher line weights like 5 or 6, something you don't find with graphite, but as mentioned you usually have to "line up" graphite for short casts. And in the glass realm I find the old shakespeare wonderrods to be pretty flexible (soft) and the Fenwick and Steffen to be a little quicker but still soft realative to g'phite.

Anyhow glass is just another way to skin the cat and it also makes a 6" fish feel bigger - try one they're a lot of fun

I have to agree with you, Fiberglass is FUN! I have several that I fish from time to time.

Posted on: 2012/1/4 20:12

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"Even the thousandth trip to the same familiar stream begins with renewed hope and unfailing faith." ZANE GREY

Way back when, I owned 2 Fenwick Feralite fiberglass rods. One of them was the FF60 6 footer. One day in January or February I drove to State College to fish Fisherman's Paradise. It was 22 degrees when we drove through State College, but it warmed up to about 38 degrees in the afternoon. I caught a lot of fish on midges that day with the Fenwick. So many fish, that other fisherman were asking "what are you using?". When I told them midges, they said "what the heck are midges?" Not many people used them or knew what they were at that time. Wish I still owned that rod.

Posted on: 2012/1/4 20:44

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I love the smell of caddis in the morning. Smells like.........victory.

I have a 6'6" and a 6'0" that I built from FH Paddock glass blanks, both are wonderful little rods that bring a smile to my face with every cast and they really let little brookies and such show off. they cast a 3 or 4 equally well, jsut depends on the situation and the stream what line I use with what rod. I also built up a yellow mcfarland glass, 7'6" 4wt that just might be my favorite rod I've ever cast. on the other end of the glass specturm, at times I fish a 6'0" solid glass montague I got at a flea market for 5 bucks and redid. it casts a 5 wt line pretty nicely and is better for streamers and heavier bugs.all in all, find what rod YOU enjoy casting and can cast well with. graphite, glass, bamboo, they are all fun to fish with!